Tall Ships Erie to set sail

This is a Sept. 9, 2010 file photo of the U.S. Brig Niagara leading six sailing vessels into Presque Isle Bay past hundreds of viewers lining the north and south piers in Erie during the 2010 Tall Ships Erie festival. GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

What do you think?

Where does the Tall Ships Erie festival rate among Erie’s varied menu of summer festivals and events? Do you and your family plan to attend?

Having grown up when a previous incarnation of the U.S. Brig Niagara sat neglected on land off the west side of lower State Street, I still remember the thrill when the reconstructed brig first set sail in 1990.

A photo from that day hangs on a wall in my home. It's hard to believe it was that long ago.

Many other people have thrilled to the allure of Pennsylvania's flagship since then, both at its home berth here in Erie and during its extensive travels to other ports. So a tall ships festival seemed like a natural when the Flagship Niagara League put on the first one in 2010.

The reception that event received from Erie residents and visitors set the stage for an encore planned for September. The Niagara League earlier this week unveiled the even bigger fleet that's expected this time.

About 30,000 people attended the 2010 Tall Ships Erie Festival, which featured six ships.

The event was regarded as a grand success even though Flagship Niagara League organizers put it together in just a few months.

As a result, expectations are high for the Tall Ships Erie event this year, which has been in the works for nearly two years. It is scheduled for Sept. 5-8 and will be the centerpiece of Erie's 200th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Lake Erie.

Expect more of everything in September.

Nine majestic ships, including the U.S. Brig Niagara, are scheduled to appear at the four-day event. Music, entertainers and a vendor expo inside the Bayfront Convention Center are also set.

Officials believe the added time spent preparing should pay off with a more organized and efficient festival operation.

John Oliver, president of VisitErie, Erie County's tourism promotion agency, talked about the impact of that timetable during a February news conference.

"The last time they put this on, they did not have a whole lot of lead time,'' Oliver said. "It was something that was put together fairly quickly. With this kind of lead time and the ability to get the word out on this, I think it's going to be one of the premier events we have in Erie this year.''

"The people from VisitErie over four days estimate an economic impact of over $6 million, so for a four-day event for Erie, that's a really, really big boost,'' Waskiewicz said. "More than the economic impact, I think it just makes people here feel good and prideful about the Niagara and what it means to not only Erie but the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.''

Festival attendees will recognize some ships -- the Pride of Baltimore II; the Unicorn, of Bridgeport, Conn., and it's all-female crew; and the Lynx, of Portsmouth, N.H. They were here in 2010.

Five ships will be making their Tall Ships Erie debut: the St. Lawrence, of Kingston, Ontario; the Sorlandet, whose home port is Kristiansand, Norway; the Peacemaker, a private yacht, of Brunswick, Ga.; the schooner Appledore IV, of Bay City, Mich.; and the sloop Friends Good Will, of South Haven, Mich.

The 210-foot-long, three-masted Sorlandet "will be the biggest and most sought-after ship,'' Waskiewicz said.

Waskiewicz said in February that his organization was committed to having a minimum of eight ships and a maximum of 10. He said strong local corporate sponsorship -- each ship has a sponsor -- enabled his organization to procure nine ships.

"I'm really happy with the fleet that we have,'' Waskiewicz said.

And he's betting much of Erie will be thrilled come September.

What do you think?

Where does the Tall Ships Erie festival rate among Erie’s varied menu of summer festivals and events? Do you and your family plan to attend?